Religious Education and Moral Development

Religion Education and Moral Development

During our Centenary year, three major liturgies were celebrated at the College — the Founder’s Day Mass, the Year 12 Valedictory Mass and the Social Justice Mass. Ash Wednesday, the ANZAC Day memorial liturgy and our Lenten Liturgy once again reminded us of the fragility of human life and the love of a forgiving God. The end-of-year Masses for each year level marked the beginning of Advent, the time in the Church year when Christians worldwide prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ. Once again, my sincere thanks go to the College Chaplain, Mrs Joan Ferguson for her guidance, advice and assistance in the planning of the major liturgies, Homeroom Masses and Sacramental Programme. This year we introduced a series of individual Homeroom Masses celebrated by Father Hien Vu (Parish priest of St Michael’s Ashburton) and Fr John Sherman OMI (Director of Oblate Vocations), involving Years 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10’s. In 2013 we would like to engage every Homeroom throughout the College. Today we live in a context where we often meet indifference towards God. In our young people who are distant from God for whatever reason, there is a grappling for a spirituality that adds meaning to their lives. By enabling our students to experience the true spirit of liturgy, we hope to empower our students to live their lives in the Christian faith. Through Eucharist, the living Christ invites each one of us to live a more fully human life and become transformed with the fire of his love. The Year 9’s and 11’s attended separate day retreats at the Syndal Baptist Conference Centre. The Lasallian Youth Ministry team facilitated each retreat and provided a context for the boys to listen, rest, talk and become refreshed. It was an informal time of sharing together in fellowship, inspiration, recreation, and spiritual growth. One of my aims is to continue to challenge the boys academically, by introducing them to various topics in the Catholic tradition. The Year 11’s studied Religion and Society, Unit 1: Religion in Society. This course

Fr Hien Vu, parish priest of St Michael’s, Ashburton, celebrates Mass for Years 7/8 in St Joseph’s church. provides the opportunity for students to understand the often complex relationships that exist between individuals, groups, religious traditions and the society in which they live. The Year 12’s continue to study Religion and Society, Unit 2: Ethics and Morality. Here the boys explore contemporary ethical issues in the light of their investigations into ethical decisionmaking and ethical perspectives, and moral viewpoints in religious traditions. Students from Grades 4–10 continue to use the mandated textbook “To Know Worship and Love” and study a large range of topics including St Paul, Church Community, Prophets, Eucharist, Reformation, and Moral DecisionMaking.

Social Justice mass with celebrant, Fr Tony Kerin, Old Collegian.

I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank and acknowledge those who teach in the Religious Education faculty, as well as expressing my gratitude for the support of our Principal, Br Paul. Every teacher who enthusiastically takes on the challenge of teaching religious education cares about their faith and the importance of that faith to be shared with their students. Teachers who teach Religious Education at De La Salle do so because they want to; theirs is a ministry of grace and courage and warrants our admiration and gratitude. Religious and moral education takes place in all facets of the College, not just within the faculty. As a Catholic school we aim to ensure that all our students are encouraged to think about their faith and values and to learn to live with God as their Leader. Deo Duce.

Mr Graeme Pender Director of Religious and Moral Education Chaplain Report

Year 8 focused on their responsibility to share their talents, their time and how they live their lives. In this light, in class and in Chapel liturgies, they brought together in prayer their research, reflection and experience. They reflected on and expressed the motivation and ‘power of one’ to make a difference in the world. This found school expression at the Social Justice Mass where students brought forward pieces of a giant jigsaw they had created of Australia and the many support groups they had investigated. More than 30 students from Year 4 through to Year 9 participated in the Sacrament preparation offered at the College. First, Reconciliation was celebrated, surrounded by family, in the College Chapel by Father Brendan Dillon at the end of Lent. Confirmation and First Communion for Year 6 to Year 9 took place with the support of St Anthony’s, Glen Huntly in July. First Communion for Primary students was celebrated in October. Three of our young men chose to be baptized during 2012. Prayer begins all our staff meetings and the students’ Homeroom each day. This year a further opportunity for reflection and development of personal faith was offered to both staff and students before school each Wednesday. The attendance grew as did the confi-

Confirmees, and Chaplain, Joan Ferguson, gather with Bishop P. Elliott DD following their confirmation in St Anthony’s Church, Glen Huntly dence of those present, and they all felt empowered to share their personal reflections message with each other. Mrs Joan Ferguson, College Chaplain